The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-03-30

way. go, yes; there is Mr.. Jones; he
plays the piano; and once Mr.. Aikens,
the elocution teacher, read piece, and
all the boarders came in. "
John smiled, cycling the little maiden
pityingly as she stitched away She
looked up suddenly and caught his
eye.
1--WE did not always keep boarders, 4"
she said, proudly, reading something
there she did not like. "When 1 was at
school we were we'll off and had nice
house; but mamma is a widow with
eight children, you know, and have to
help her about the work"
81 know" said John, kindly, looking
at little Clarice with so much sympathy
that she quite warmed toward him, and
continued confidentially:
"Once | had a beautiful time-that
was a good while ago-a girl l knew at
school hunted me up, wrote to me, and
invited me to visit her. 1t was in Phila-
delphia."
"And did you gol'
''Ah, yes, and it was beautiful time ~
Then, her face falling, "but 1 had to
come home. 1t was all over in three
months"
''Ah, that was hard, " sympathetic
ally.
" Yes, it was, Mr.. Rogers, " taking uD
another jacket and beginning on a new
hole. For they were rich, you know,
and it was quite like old times their
nice house and all-and then to come
back here-the noise and the children,
and clearing up the rooms-it seemed
worse after that. But perhaps | shouldn't
have minded if it hadn't been for-there
was something worse than all that. " con-
tinued Clarice, working hard at the
jacket, with crimson cheeks.
"Will you tell me about it," asked
John Rogers, very kindly, his honest
gray eyes softening. 1t does one good
sometimes to tell one troubles, and l am
so much older than you"
Clarice looked up, quite gratifed at
this unexpected sympathy.
" will tell you. Mr.. Rogers. It was
when l was in Philadelphia that 1 met
Harris-Harris Bell-and was-so diff
ferent there, at the parties went to with
Fannie, that he thought l was pretty,
and told me so, and said that he loved
me, and wanted me to be his wife. l had
pretty white dress, you know tim
idly, and glancing blushing down at
her present faded calico "and wore
flowers -and-you can scarcely under
stand me-"
Yes, can understand it." said John,
noting the light in the brown eyes and
the newly-acquired color. "Tell me the
rest, Clarice"
And we were engaged-and 1 could
scarcely believe it-but 1 was very
happy. He was such handsome gentle
man, too, and so aristocratic, and l did
not mind the boarders. or ANYTHING,
when thought about Harris. So at last
he came here to see me; and he saw
mamma and the children, the house and
the boarders, and l can't tell you how it
was, but he was different. He didn't
tell me he was changed, but he was rest
less, and 1t worried him, and saw he
cared. l am proud, Mr.. Rogers, though
we are poor now, and l broke it all up.
L;se L-;;.esp,t ,nfl tfthe love 1 had dreamed Of
-, many novels, and l
IL n-~LA's-~1nrough u - "a - 80
had read greaS ,ronortS, = 80 = %
thought life was fairy tale aGS. :! 80"
beautiful. always used TO think, w no..
some one comes to love me I'll never be
sad or vexed any more;' and Harris
seemed to me all had wished for until l
saw the house and the boarders 'retted
him. For had dreamed of love that
would be out of the common, and that
when l went away with nv lover 1
thought /, too, would be better, Just as
he wished me to be. So told him, Mr..
Rogers, it was all over, and he said per-
haps we were not fitted to make each
other happy And then he went away,
and the work and the noise and the
boarders fretted me as they had never
done before. For somehow, although l
could not love him as much for treating
me so, the thoughts about him and the
dreams about him were all gone-and l
missed them So"
"Poor child ~ said John, tenderly.
''But it's nv own fault. Mr. Rogers.
love as | have dreamed about, and
mother says l did very wreng to break
it off. She was very angry with me;
but rkneW the things would always
fret him, and l could not bear it,
Clarice, would it help you any TO
knew that l, too, have suffered as you
have suffered?" asked John, for two
shining tears had dropped on the boys
jacket. I, too, dreamed of love, and l
found a woman whom l believed had
given me that love; but because her
parents found in me only a plain, poor
man, no longer young, she gave me up.
She gave up faith, and trust, and hope,
because she had not that real love which
you describe"
He stopped speaking. He had forgot
ten the little girl in her calico gown,
and was gazing abstractedly out of the
window, hard lines of regret and pas
sionate despair written on his face.
Suddenly he felt little, warm, soft
hand laid gently on his, and Clarice
said
"Mr. Rogers, am so sorry"
He wrung the little working hand,
and then he rose and went to his room
and gave way to his new sorrow.
Ciarice folded her sewing and put it
away; but it cOmforted her as she went
about her evening duties that Mr.. Rogers
had listened to her story, and TO know
that he, too, had missd the love he